Thousands of tourists were left stranded outside the Louvre in Paris on Monday, as it was forced to shut down. What went wrong? It’s staff decided to go on strike

The Louvre's rich history dates back to the 12th century, and it has undergone many transformations over the centuries, but its shutdown is significant.

In the wake of that growing movement, workers at the Louvre reportedly spontaneously decided to walk out during a standard staff meeting on Monday, per the AP. Gallery attendants, ticket takers, and security all refused to operate their posts, complaining that the crowds have become unmanageable and the museum is understaffed.

A spontaneous strike at the Louvre erupted during a routine internal meeting, as gallery attendants, ticket agents and security personnel refused to take up their posts.

A sudden closure of the Louvre Museum on Monday, June 16, 2025, left visitors who had been queuing outside disappointed.

The Louvre Museum closed after staff walked out over overcrowding, decaying infrastructure and deep funding cuts, leaving visitors locked out in protest

Thousands of angry tourists waited for hours outside the Louvre on Monday morning after the Paris museum's staff staged a surprise strike.

Beginning January 1, 2026, major French museums-including the Louvre and the Château de Versailles-will charge non-European Union visitors €30 (about $35), up from €22 ($25), according to Le Monde. The new pricing,